Safety release ski bindings

ABSTRACT

A knob-like element is fixed rigidly to one end of the boot. A pair of spring loaded levers are pivotally mounted onto the ski and arranged for embracing the knob-like element when the boot carrying same is appropriately positioned on the ski. Spring loading of the levers is such as to permit them to separate, which separation permits insertion and removal from a position of embracement thereby of said knob-like element. The levers further define a funnel-shape portion immediately behind the release edges of the levers to facilitate entry between said levers of said knob-like element or to permit separation of said levers by insertion into said funnel-shaped opening of a ski pole.

[ Feb. 26, 1974 United States Patent 1191 Smolka et al.

SAFETY RELEASE SKI BINDINGS [75] Inventors: Thomas Gordon Smolka,

Primary Examiner--Robert R. Song Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Woodhams, Blanchard & Flynn Wien-Mauer; Gottfried Schweizer, Wien, both of Austria [57] ABSTRACT A knob-like element is fixed rigidly to one end of the boot. 'A pair of spring loaded levers are pivotally d n r n. e m w S cm Z2 n m1 2 1 m.. en. GA a, e n: d Me fl AF ll 32 72 [l [21] Appl. No.: 243,174

mounted onto the ski and arranged for embracing the knob-like element when the boot carrying same is ap- [30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 3, 1971 propriately positioned on the ski. Spring loading of the Austria A 3793/71 levers issuch as to permit them to separate, which separation permits insertion and removal from a position of embracement thereby of said knob-like element. The levers further define a funnel-shapeportion T T 5N5 J 3 cl H31 W W 8 8 2 m2 mmh nuc r Una nne us I. l C d Std UI .F H M 555 immediately behind the release edges of the levers to facilitate entry between said levers of said knob-like [561 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS element or to permit separation of said levers by inset; tion into said funnel-shaped opening of a ski pole.

7/1964 Spaden'ian.................... 1/1965 280 l 1.35 T t 1 280; 35 T 10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Malone PATENTEDFms :974

FIG.

SAFETY RELEASE SKI BINDINGS The invention relates to a ski binding which has spring-loaded levers which are pivotably supported on the ski and which further have bent ends adapted for gripping over a boot fitting.

Ski bindings are known, wherein an approximately angularly constructed bootfitting is secured on the boot and includes a conical projection extending upwardly at the rearward end of the boot sole: This conical projection is engaged by h-ingelike, pivotably supported, spring-loaded,,levers. However, in such a system there exists the disadvantage that the user cannot step into the binding automatically. In order to secure the ski boot on the ski, the two levers must be pressed together manually against the force of the spring so that, when released, the upwardly extending fitting can be engaged by the levers. This is of course complicated and requires much force. The same disadvantage exists in stepping out of the binding. A further disadvantage consists also in that this known fitting which is located in part on, and is secured to, the underside of. the boot sole and can be easily damaged during walking. As is known, during walking the rear lower edge of the boot sole usually receives the most wear and in the case of the known device the fitting above mentioned is. located at the rear lower edge. Still further, the conical tapering of the upwardly extending projection of the fitting and the'levers which act onto the conically tapered part must-be adjusted precisely with respect to one another. This not only causes the device to be relatively expensive but also causes it to be adversely affected in its operation by small irregularities, for example by snow, ice or dirt between ski and boot.

The purpose of the invention is to avoid these disad vantages and the invention is characterized in that the boot fitting is constructed as one component of a swivel and the bent ends of the spring-loaded levers grip over the boot fitting both fromthe side and also from above. Said levers also define a funnel-shaped opening immediately behind the upper release edges thereof.

This construction provides an inexpensive and trouble-free device. A user can step into the binding automatically without being required to overcome manually any spring forces. Furthermore, the swivel fitting does not contact the ground during walking with the ski boot.

The subject matter of the invention is illustrated in one exemplary embodiment in the drawing, in which: FIG. 1 is a top view of an inventive construction.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line ll-II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view as FIG. 2, wherein a release in the upward direction is taking place.

Finally FIG. 4 is a top view of a position during a lateral twisting release. I i

As one can recognize from the drawing, the ski binding consists substantially of two side-by-side and. generally coplanar levers l, 2 which are loaded by the springs 3, 4 and which with their bent ends engage over the boot fitting 5 both from theside and also from above. The boot fitting 5 is constructed as a double-conical component of a swivel which is mounted rigidly to the boot sole 6. Thesprings 3, 4 press the levers 1, 2 against two upstanding and parallel posts 7, 8 which are fixedly anchored on the base plate 9. The plane defined by the posts 7, 8 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski. To prevent a lifting off of the entire binding, a disk 10 is secured at the upper end of the posts 7, 8. The springs 3, 4 abut the ends of a pair of generally coplanar support arms '11, 12 which straddle the levers 1, 2 and which are supported at their other ends on the levers 1, 2. The support arms 11, 12 are fixed in their central zone to the levers l, 2 by the screw 14 and the nut 13. I

The levers l, 2 form a funnel-shaped opening 15 in the zone where they engage over the boot fitting 5 and immediately behind the upper release edges; During the stepping into the binding, the boot is so located that the fitting is positioned above this funnel-shaped enlargement 15 and then the boot is moved downwardly.

This causes the levers 1, 2 to be separated as shown in FIG. 3 after which the fitting attains the holding position of FIGS. 1 and 2. Furthermore the levers l, 2 form an insertion 16 for the ski pole. If the ski pole is introduced into this insertion, the levers 1, 2 .can be again separated snd the fitting released from the binding. Thus one can also easily step out of the binding.

If a twisting fall occurs, the 'boot sole 6 moves to the side and the levers l, 2 are caused to pivot (FIG. 4). They are supported on the posts 7, 8 and areseparated against the force'of the springs 3, 4. This is particularly.

illustrated in FIG. 4, which figure illustrates the moment of release. If a force occurs upwardly, for example due to a fallin'an upward direction or rearwardly, then the fitting 5 is pulled upwardly and both levers 1, 2 are again separated, as is also shown in FIG..3, which illustrates as well the moment of release in upward direction. The funnel-shaped enlargement 15 helpsdur: ing the release to insure that the fitting is safely freed. When the fitting has reached a certain height,'the fitting 5 is then in effect urged'upwardly.

The invention is not limited to the illustrated exemplary embodiment. A number of further possible embodiments exist which lie within the scope of the inven-' tion. For example the fitting could also be constructed ball-shaped and the ends of the levers could be modified correspondingly. Furthermore it I is possible to make the posts 7, 8 of a single part, for example, a part approximately rectangular in cross section and rounded off on its ends. The illustrated ski binding can be'used for both a front jaw and also for a heel binding.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it willbe recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 1. A ski binding which has a plurality of springloaded levers pivotably supported on a ski, said levers having bent ends adapted for'engaging over a boot fitting, comprising the improvemen'twherein said boot fitting is constructed as a swivel part and said bent ends of said plurality of spring-loaded levers together define receiving means for engaging the sides and the top of said boot fitting and means defining a funnel-shaped enlargement provided immediately above said receiving means to facilitate an insertion of said boot fitting into said receiving means through an application of a downward force on said boot fitting.

2. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said levers include means defining a recess for receiving the end of a ski pole for opening the binding.

3. A releasable ski binding for mounting onto the upper surface of a ski and being adapted to engage a boot fitting secured to a ski boot, comprising:

means defining a base;

a first pair of side-by-side and generally coplanar levers mounted on said base means;

receiving means adjacent one end of each of said first pair of levers and adapted to house said boot fitting therebetween;

a second pair of generally coplanar levers straddling said first pair of levers, one end of each of said second pair of levers engaging one of said first pair of levers at a first location thereon;

securing means for limiting the magnitude of separation between said first and second pairs of levers;

and

resilient means positioned between the other ends of each of said second pair of levers and said first pair of levers at a second location thereon spaced from said first location, said resilient means urging said first pair of levers together and said other ends of said pair of levers apart to the maximum extent permitted by said securing means.

4. A releasable ski binding according to claim 4, wherein said base means includes a pair of vertically aligned, horizontally spaced, upstanding posts, each of said first pair of posts having means for engaging said posts and preventing a relative longitudinal movement between said first pair of levers and said posts, said resilient means urging said first pair of levers into a parallel relationship with the plane defined by said pair of upstanding posts, said plane extending longitudinally of said ski.

5. i A releasable ski binding according to claim 4, wherein each of said posts defines a pivot axis for one of said first pair of levers when a lateral force is applied to said boot fitting which is'sufficient in magnitude to overcome the urging of said resilient means.

6. A releasable ski binding according to claim 5, wherein said engaging means on said first pair of levers are located adjacent the ends thereof remote from said receiving means.

7., A releasable ski binding according to claim 6, wherein said securing means includes an elongated rod member extending transversely of each of said first and second pairs of levers, said rod member having enlarged heads at opposite ends thereof;

wherein each of said first and second pairs of levers has mean's defining an opening therethrough for receiving said rod member, said enlarged heads defining said limits for-the magnitude of separation between said first and second pairs of levers.

8. A releasable ski binding according to claim 7, wherein said rod member includes means for varying the spacing between said enlarged heads.

9. A releasable ski binding according to claim 6, wherein said receiving means adjacent one end of each of said first pair of levers together define a recess into which is received said boot fitting, said boot fitting being removable from saidrecess only through a separation of said first pair of levers caused by a force being applied to said boot fitting and thence said first pair of levers which is greater in magnitude than the force of said resilient means, said force beingone of a lateral horizontal force, an upward force and a combination thereof; and

including means defining a funnel-shaped enlargement positioned immediately above said receiving means whereby a downward force on said boot fitting placed therein will effect a separation of said first pair of levers and an insertion of said boot fitting into said receiving means.

10. A releasable ski binding according to claim 9, wherein said first pair of levers further includes means defining a receptacle adjacent said funnel-shaped enlargement adapted to receive the end of a ski pole to effect a separation of said first pair of levers and thereby an opening of said binding. 

1. A ski binding which has a plurality of spring-loaded levers pivotably supported on a ski, said levers having bent ends adapted for engaging over a boot fitting, comprising the improvement wherein said boot fitting is constructed as a swivel part and said bent ends of said plurality of spring-loaded levers together define receiving means for engaging the sides and the top of said boot fitting and means defining a funnel-shaped enlargement is provided immediately above said receiving means to facilitate an insertion of said boot fitting into said receiving means through an application of a downward force on said booT fitting.
 2. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said levers include means defining a recess for receiving the end of a ski pole for opening the binding.
 3. A releasable ski binding for mounting onto the upper surface of a ski and being adapted to engage a boot fitting secured to a ski boot, comprising: means defining a base; a first pair of side-by-side and generally coplanar levers mounted on said base means; receiving means adjacent one end of each of said first pair of levers and adapted to house said boot fitting therebetween; a second pair of generally coplanar levers straddling said first pair of levers, one end of each of said second pair of levers engaging one of said first pair of levers at a first location thereon; securing means for limiting the magnitude of separation between said first and second pairs of levers; and resilient means positioned between the other ends of each of said second pair of levers and said first pair of levers at a second location thereon spaced from said first location, said resilient means urging said first pair of levers together and said other ends of said pair of levers apart to the maximum extent permitted by said securing means.
 4. A releasable ski binding according to claim 4, wherein said base means includes a pair of vertically aligned, horizontally spaced, upstanding posts, each of said first pair of posts having means for engaging said posts and preventing a relative longitudinal movement between said first pair of levers and said posts, said resilient means urging said first pair of levers into a parallel relationship with the plane defined by said pair of upstanding posts, said plane extending longitudinally of said ski.
 5. A releasable ski binding according to claim 4, wherein each of said posts defines a pivot axis for one of said first pair of levers when a lateral force is applied to said boot fitting which is sufficient in magnitude to overcome the urging of said resilient means.
 6. A releasable ski binding according to claim 5, wherein said engaging means on said first pair of levers are located adjacent the ends thereof remote from said receiving means.
 7. A releasable ski binding according to claim 6, wherein said securing means includes an elongated rod member extending transversely of each of said first and second pairs of levers, said rod member having enlarged heads at opposite ends thereof; wherein each of said first and second pairs of levers has means defining an opening therethrough for receiving said rod member, said enlarged heads defining said limits for the magnitude of separation between said first and second pairs of levers.
 8. A releasable ski binding according to claim 7, wherein said rod member includes means for varying the spacing between said enlarged heads.
 9. A releasable ski binding according to claim 6, wherein said receiving means adjacent one end of each of said first pair of levers together define a recess into which is received said boot fitting, said boot fitting being removable from said recess only through a separation of said first pair of levers caused by a force being applied to said boot fitting and thence said first pair of levers which is greater in magnitude than the force of said resilient means, said force being one of a lateral horizontal force, an upward force and a combination thereof; and including means defining a funnel-shaped enlargement positioned immediately above said receiving means whereby a downward force on said boot fitting placed therein will effect a separation of said first pair of levers and an insertion of said boot fitting into said receiving means.
 10. A releasable ski binding according to claim 9, wherein said first pair of levers further includes means defining a receptacle adjacent said funnel-shaped enlargement adapted to receive the end of a ski pole to effect a separation of said first pair of levers and thereby an opening of said binding. 